Method and apparatus for multiplexing in a wireless communication infrastructure

Abstract

A network includes a plurality of antennas coupled to a plurality of base stations. The network can be optical or constructed with RF microwave links. The antennas and base stations are configured to transmit and receive digital signals representing cellular signals and the digital signals are exchanged over the network. A plurality of links couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base stations. At least one link of the plurality of links provides multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations and at least a portion of the antennas.

1 - 89 . (canceled)  
   
   
       90 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, wherein the antennas and base stations are configured to transmit and receive signals representing cellular signals and the signals are exchanged over the network; and    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth; and    at least one capacity redirection switch coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link to one of the antennas, the antennas directing RF traffic into the at least one capacity redirection switch which then redirects RF traffic into base transceiver stations as needed; and    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       91 . The network of  claim 90 , wherein the plurality of links are optical fiber links.  
   
   
       92 . The network of  claim 91 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one fiber link carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base transceiver stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       93 . The network of  claim 91 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to transmit at least two optical wavelengths to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       94 . The network of  claim 93 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       95 . The network of  claim 90 , wherein the plurality of links are free space optical links.  
   
   
       96 . The network of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to transmit at least two optical wavelengths to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       97 . The network of  claim 91 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to transmit at least two optical wavelengths to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       98 . The network of  claim 97 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       99 . The network of  claim 97 , wherein additional transmission paths are created using frequency division multiplexing on the optical carriers.  
   
   
       100 . The network of  claim 90 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to use time division multiplexing to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       101 . The network of  claim 100 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       102 . The network of  claim 91 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to use time division multiplexing to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       103 . The network of  claim 102 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base transceiver stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       104 . The network of  claim 95 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to use time division multiplexing to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       105 . The network of  claim 104 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       106 . The network of  claim 90 , wherein wavelength division multiplexing and time division multiplexing in combination creates at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       107 . The network of  claim 106 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel and/or optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       108 . The network of  claim 91 , wherein wavelength division multiplexing and time division multiplexing in combination creates at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       109 . The network of  claim 108 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel and/or optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base transceiver stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       110 . The network of  claim 95 , wherein wavelength division multiplexing and time division multiplexing in combination creates at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       111 . The network of  claim 101 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel and/or optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       112 . The network of  claim 90 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of digital transceivers coupled to the plurality of antennas and base stations that generate digital signals.    
   
   
       113 . The network of  claim 112 , wherein at least one of a digital transceiver is positioned at a base station and digitizes a downlink analog cellular signal generated by the base station that is representative of a wireless spectrum band and transmits it to one or more antennas over the network.  
   
   
       114 . The network of  claim 113 , wherein the digital transceiver at the base transceiver station receives an uplink digital signal representative of a wireless spectrum band from an antenna over the network and reconstructs the analog cellular signal to pass to the base transceiver station.  
   
   
       115 . The network of  claim 114 , wherein a digital transceiver at an antenna digitizes an uplink cellular signal received from the antenna and transmits a digital signal to one or more base transceiver stations over the network.  
   
   
       116 . The network of  claim 115 , wherein the digital transceiver positioned at the antenna receives a digital signal representative of a downlink wireless spectrum band from a base station over the network and reconstructs the downlink analog signal to transmit to one or more mobile wireless units.  
   
   
       117 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of remote units and a plurality of base units, wherein each of a remote unit is a radiating unit that has at least a portion of the functionality of a base transceiver station;    a plurality of links coupling the plurality of remote units and the plurality of base units, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base units with at least a portion of the plurality of remote units, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth;    at least one switching device coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       118 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links being fixed optical paths, wherein each of a fixed optical path is a stationary optical link between one or more base transceiver stations and one or more antennas that is rerouted on a time scale much slower than that of the bit rate over the link, and so connects nodes to one another as a virtual circuit, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth;    at least one switching device coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       119 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, wherein the antennas and base stations are configured to transmit and receive signals representing cellular signals and the signals are exchanged over the network; and    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth;    at least one capacity redirection switch coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link to one of the antennas, the antennas directing RF traffic into the at least one capacity redirection switch which then redirects RF traffic into base transceiver stations as needed; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       120 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, wherein the antennas and base stations are configured to transmit and receive signals representing cellular signals and the signals are exchanged over the network, at least a portion of the antennas including discriminators to provide selected signals; and    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth; and    at least one capacity redirection switch coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link to one of the antennas, the antennas directing RF traffic into the at least one capacity redirection switch which then redirects RF traffic into base transceiver stations as needed.    
   
   
       121 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, wherein the antennas and base stations are configured to transmit and receive signals representing cellular signals and the signals are exchanged over the network;    a plurality of downlink amplifier units positioned at antenna locations;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth; and    at least one capacity redirection switch coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link to one of the antennas, the antennas directing RF traffic into the at least one capacity redirection switch which then redirects RF traffic into base transceiver stations as needed.    
   
   
       122 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of remote units and a plurality of base units, wherein each of a remote unit is a radiating unit that has at least a portion of the functionality of a base transceiver station;    a plurality of links coupling the plurality of remote units and the plurality of base units, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base units with at least a portion of the plurality of remote units, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth;    at least one switching device coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas; and 
 wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.  
   
   
   
       123 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links being fixed optical paths, wherein each of a fixed optical path is a stationary optical link between one or more base transceiver stations and one or more antennas that is rerouted on a time scale much slower than that of the bit rate over the link, and so connects nodes to one another as a virtual circuit, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth;    at least one switching device coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       124 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas RF coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, wherein the antennas and base transceiver stations are configured to transmit and receive signals representing cellular signals, and wherein the signals are exchanged over the network;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth;    at least one switching device coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas; and 
 wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.  
   
   
   
       125 . A method of transmission, comprising: 
 providing a network that includes a plurality of optical links that couple a plurality of antennas with a plurality of base transceiver stations and at least one switching device;    providing multiple transmission paths with at least one link using optical DWDM between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas;    encoding signals over the multiple transmission paths;    using the switch to allocate at least one wavelength from the link to the one of the antennas while passing all other wavelengths to another switching device;    at least one transmission path configured to carry all spectrum of a selected bandwidth; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.